Alpha & Omega

1. Alpha & Omega “’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’” says the Lord God, “’the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty’”(Rev 1:8). Alpha and Omega symbolize the power and perfection of God. In the book of Revelation, God appears to John and tells him to send letters to the seven churches in Asia, telling them of his vision of God. “’Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld’”(Rev 1:17-18). The origin of alpha and omega comes from the Jewish church, where Jews regard God as perfect both in truth (Emeth) and goodness. Truth is more powerful than goodness, and it is composed of three letters: Aleph (Alpha), Mem (My), and Thaw (Theta). Aleph and Thaw are the first and last letters of Hebrew alphabet, just as Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Although Alpha and Omega do not hold the same root meanings as Aleph and Thaw, both usages of the first and last letters show that God is the beginning and the end, and encompasses everything. Alpha and Omega together became the crest of Christ, and Catholic priests wear it on their vestments as a symbol of God.

2. Janus Janus is the Roman guardian of gates and doors and symbolizes the bridge between the primitive and civilization. Since one enters a door to get to a new place, Janus is considered to be the god of beginnings. Janus was worshipped on the first day of every month as well as before the beginnings of important events (weddings, births, harvest season), and the name Janus has the same root meaning as the word January that comes from the Etruscan word jauna (door). Janus is said to have been a mortal from Thesally who married Camese and ruled the kingdom of Latium with her. When Camese died, Janus became the sole ruler of Latium and brought about the Golden Age. After Janus died, he was deified and became the Protector of the City of Rome. In honor of Janus, the Ianus Geminus was erected in Rome-one door facing towards the rising sun and the other towards the setting sun. Open gates meant that Rome was at war, and closed gates meant that the city was at peace. When the Sabines attacked Rome (the Ianus Geminus was open), Janus made a hot spring come out of the ground, preventing them from ascending the hill and hurting the Romans. After this, the Romans kept the gates open during times of war in order to allow Janus to help them if needed. What is the connection between Janus and alpha and omega?

3. Works Cited http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01332b.htm http://www.pantheon.org/articles/j/janus.html http://www.novareinna.com/festive/janus.html